Xyzal

What Is Xyzal (Levocetirizine)?

Xyzal is the brand name of the drug levocetirizine, which is used to
treat year-round or seasonal allergies.

The medicine can treat allergy symptoms, such as runny nose; sneezing;
or red, itchy, and watery eyes. The drug may also be used to treat the
itching and
swelling that occur with hives.

Xyzal is in a class of medicines called antihistamines. It works by
blocking the action of histamine, a substance in the body that causes
allergy symptoms.

This drug is used to treat symptoms of year-round allergies and hives
in adults and children who are at least 6 months old. It's used to
treat seasonal
allergies in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.

The medicine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in
2007 and is manufactured by Sanofi.

Xyzal Warnings

It's important not to give a child more of this medication than is the
doctor prescribes. A child's body absorbs twice as much of the same
dose of Xyzal as
an adult's body does.

You shouldn't give this medication to an infant who is younger than 6
months old.

Don't use Xyzal if you are allergic to levocetirizine or cetirizine
(Zyrtec).

Before taking Xyzal, you should tell your doctor if you have or have
ever had:

Liver disease

Kidney disease

An enlarged prostate

Problems with urination

Gallbladder problems

You shouldn't take this drug if you have end-stage kidney disease or
are on dialysis. Children younger than age 12 with kidney disease
shouldn't take
Xyzal.

Call your doctor if your symptoms don't improve or worsen or you also
have a fever.

Tell your doctor you are taking Xyzal before having any laboratory
exams, as the medication can interfere with the results of certain
tests.

Pregnancy and Xyzal

Xyzal is a Pregnancy Category B drug, which means it's not expected to
harm an unborn baby. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant or
plan to
become pregnant while taking this medicine.

The drug can pass into breast milk and may harm a breastfeeding baby.
You shouldn't breastfeed while taking Xyzal.

Xyzal FAQ

Q: My daughter is 9 years old and has been on Xyzal 2.5 mg for one year. Is it safe to be on Xyzal long-term?

A: Unfortunately, there have been no long term studies past six months for this medication, so the long-term effects are not known. Zyrtec, which is the medication that Xyzal was produced from, does not seem to have any long-term side effect associated with it. As long as your daughter is under the supervision of a physician and you relate any unusual side effects that she experiences, the medication will be closely monitored.

Q: Is it safe for a 7-year-old child to be on Xyzal for a long period?

A: Xyzal (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) is used for the treatment of allergies in patients 6 months of age and older. The long-term use of Xyzal was evaluated in an 18-month study of children 12 to 24 months of age. The researchers concluded that the most frequent side effects were upper respiratory tract infections, transient gastrointestinal symptoms, or exacerbations of allergic diseases. Children taking Xyzal had no adverse effects on height, body mass, attainment of developmental milestones, or blood tests. For more information, please consult with your health care practitioner and visit http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/xyzal.
Michelle McDermott, PharmD

Q: Xyzal is such an expensive drug and there is no generic . Can you have any other drug to use instead of Xyzal?

A: Xyzal (levocetirazine) is a medication used to treat seasonal allergies or chronic hives. It is made from the medication Zyrtec (cetirizine) and it is an antihistamine. The other medications that are similar to Xyzal are Claritin (loratidine) or Allegra (fexofenadine), which all have a generic version that may be less expensive with your insurance. The clinical efficacy of 5 mg Xyzal has been compared with that of 10 mg Zyrtec in a clinical study in which the products were given to patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The results showed that there was no difference between the two therapies. Here is some information on both Xyzal and Zyrtec: http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/xyzalhttp://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/zyrtec Lori Mendoza, PharmD Poulin, PharmD

Q: My 9-year-old daughter has been taking Xyzal 2.5 mg for 1 year because of an allergic reaction (hives) from omnicef. Can she take a blood test for allergy testing while taking this drug Xyzal?

A: Your question concerns whether your daughter can be tested for allergies while she is on Xyzal (levocetirizine), http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/xyzal. Since Xyzal is used to treat the symptoms of allergic reactions, there should be no complications with allergy testing. Of course, it is always a good idea to check with your child's allergy health care provider in matters like this. Please consult your health care provider for guidance in your specific case. Gregory Latham, MS, RPh

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